Climbing Hydrangeas

Hydrangea anomala
A rapid growing deciduous, aerial rooting self clinging vine reaching a maximim height of 50 feet in height. It is very similar to Hydrangea petiolaris and is native to Sakhalin, South Korea and most of Japan.
The coarsely-toothed, oval leaves, up to 6 x 4 inches in size are deep green above.
The white flowers are borne in flat corymbs, up to 10 inches across, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 and is pest free. Difficult to transplant unless very small, it may be slow growing until full establishment.

'Glabra'
A vine reaching up to 66 feet with pink flowers borne on lacecap clusters up to 6 inches across. Native to Taiwan.

'Tilifolia'
Very fast growing with, huge, sharply-toothed leaves and flower clusters up to 10 inches across. The attractive shredding bark is reddish.

'Winter Glow'
Reaches up to 60 feet or more, with serrate-edged, evergreen leaves that turn purple in winter. The flowers are borne on lacecap clusters during mid to late spring.

'Winter Green'
Evergreen with foliage turning very purple in winter.

Hydrangea integerrima
A large, evergreen vine native to Chile that can reach up to 100 feet in height.
The thick, leathery, up to 6 x 3 inches, are deep green.
The white flowers are borne in domed panicles up to 6 inches across.
Hardy north to zone 7

Hydrangea integrifolia ( Taiwan Evergreen Climbing Hydrangea )
An imposing evergreen, vigorous, aerial rooted climber reaching up to 100 feet or more in height that is native to the high mountains of Taiwan and the Phillipines. This vine attains massive sizes ascending large trees in its native habitat.
The toothed, elliptic to oblong leaves are up to 9 x 3 inches in size. The attractive foliage is bright crimson red to red-purple at first turning glossy deep green. The flowers are white and borne in terminal inflorescences during late summer. Plants may take over a decade to begin blooming.
The younger stems are densely covered in bristly coarse, red-purple hairs.
Hardy zones 7b to 10 and possibly even to zone 6b. A forest plant in its natural range, it prefers moist, sheltered conditions however is tolerant of tree root competition if watered heavily until establishment.

Hydrangea petiolaris ( Climbing Hydrangea )
A rapid growing deciduous, aerial rooting self clinging vine reaching up to 70 feet in height and 50 feet across. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 10 feet; 10 years - 30 x 8 feet; 12 years - 40 feet; 20 years - 80 feet; largest on record - 104 x 80 feet.
The finely-toothed, oval, pointed leaves, are up to 6 x 4 inches in size. The foliage is glossy deep green above turning to yellow late in autumn ( typically November )
The white flowers are borne in flat corymbs up to 10 inches across.
The warm orange-brown, flaking bark is attractive in winter.
Hardy zones 3 to 8, is pest free and thrives in sun or shade on most moist, fertile soils. Tolerant of alkaline soil conditions. Difficult to transplant unless very small, the Climbing Hydrangea may be slow growing until full establishment.
Easily propagated by seed sown on moist soil or less easily by softwood cuttings in summer.

* photo taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum

* photo taken on April 11 2010 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, Maryland


* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD


* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour




* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario

* photos taken on May 26 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on May 4 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 16 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 25 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 13 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 20 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 29 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on May 22 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 9 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 18 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 29 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 16 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken by Dr. Nick V. Kurzenko @ CalPhotos

'Mirranda'
Leaves boldly edged in golden-yellow.
The flowers are white.
Slower growing than species but still reaching up to 30 feet or more.

'Silver Lining'
The stunning silvery-green foliage is boldly margined white, it is otherwise similar to species. It rarely reverts.

'Skyland Giant'
Glossy deep green foliage and huge flower heads up to 12 inches across.
The foliage persists late into autumn.
The attractive flaking bark is tan color.

'Sutters Mill'
Slower growing, reaching only 25 feet.
The foliage is intense bright greenish-yellow.
It has excellent scorch resistance for such a highly variegated plant.

'Variegata'
Wide yellow leaf margins

Hydrangea seemanii
An extremely rare strong growing, aerial rooting evergreen vine reaching up to 50 x 17 feet that is native to high elevations of the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. Without support, it is sometimes found as a large upright shrub.
Fast growing and quick to establish, it can easily increase at over 4 feet per year.
The thick, elliptical leaves, up to 8 x 2.5 inches in size look more like that of an evergreen Magnolia than that of a Hydrangea. The leathery foliage is very glossy deep green.
The flowers are borne in clusters up to 6 inches across.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 ( reports of 7 are unconfirmed ). Hardy far north of its native range in oceanic climates such as London, England and lower elevations of the Pacific Northwest.

Hydrangea serratifolia
A strong growing vine native to Chile and Argentina that reaches up to 100 feet and is similar to Hydrangea seemanii.
The elliptical leaves are up to 6 x 3 inches. The foliage is deep green.
The white flowers are all fertile and are borne in clusters up to 6 inches across.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 though preferring a maritime climate.

SCHIZOPHRAGMA
A small genus of vining plants that are very closely related to the climbing Hydrangeas.

Schizophragma corylieum
A very rare deciduous climbing Hydrangea, reaching up to 30 feet in height. Some records include: 10 years - 20 feet.
The finely-toothed, ovate leaves are glossy mid-green. The creamy-white flowers are borne on flat lacecap clusters during early summer.
Older stems have attractive bright brown exfoliating bark.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.

Schizophragma elliptifolium ( Elliptic Hydrangea Vine )
A self-clinging deciduous vine, reaching up to 15 feet, that is native to mountain slopes in Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces in southern China.
The elliptical leaves are up to 5 x 2.8 inches in size. The thick but papery foliage is deep green above, gray-green beneath.
The creamy-white, lacecap flowers appear during early summer.
The twigs are reddish-brown.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.

'Lacy Hearts'
Very attractive gray-green foliage that is splashed and bordered creamy-white.

'Red Rhapsody'
Very attractive glossy red new foliage during spring.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides ( Japanese Hydrangea Vine )
A large, vigorous, aerial-rooting vine native to Korea and Japan that reaches up to 60 feet or more whether climbing wall or tree trunk. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 5 feet; largest on record - 80 x 40 feet on wall.
The coarsely-toothed, deciduous leaves, up to 7 x 6 inches are glossy mid-green in summer turning golden-yellow during autumn.
The small white flowers are borne in large flat cymes up to 12 inches across that also include some white bracts up to 1.6 inches long. They appear late spring into early summer.
The reddish-brown stems are attractive during the winter.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in sun or partial shade on light, moist, well drained, fertile soil. May be slow growing until it becomes established. Pruning is not generally needed except to dead head old blooms and to cut out dead or weak growth in late winter. Easy to grow, it is not generally bothered by pests or disease. Propagation is from layering, semi-ripe cuttings taken mid to late summer or seed sown during spring.

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.




* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington DC

* photo taken on May 8 2019 in Gaithersburg, MD

'Moonlight'
Silvery-blue foliage that turns to orange during autumn.

* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD



* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, Maryland

* photos taken on July 7 2023 @ Bayfield, ON

'Roseum'
Similar to species except for having pink rather than white flower bracts. The foliage is also deeper green.

* photo taken on June 5 2018 in Columbia, MD

Schizophragma integrifolium
A large vigorous vine native to central China that can reach up to 66 or very rarely 80 feet in height.
The deciduous, oval, bright green leaves, up to 8 x 5 inches, are edged with very small teeth or no teeth at all.
The flowers are borne in cymes up to 12 inches across and include white bracts up to 10 inches in length.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in sun or shade. This Hydrangea loves hot summers and its foliage in sun yet is roots in cool, fertile soil therefore mulching is recommended.
Propagation is from seed in spring or from softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer.

'Faurei'
A rare but most spectacular vine, that is native to Taiwan.
It is similar to the above, except the huge white flower clusters, up to 12 inches across, include white sepals up to 3 inches in length.